Luis Exposito Stats & Scouting Report

AB	18
AVG	.056
OBP	.19
SLG	.056
HR	0

Full name Luis Exposito
Born 01/20/1987 in Miami, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School St. Petersburg College
Debut 05/04/2012
Drafted in the 31st round (948th overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2005.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Exposito has the best pure tools among Boston's catching prospects, starting with raw power and arm strength. The Red Sox were attracted to his defensive ability when they signed him for $150,000 as a draft-and-follow in 2006, but he stands out more with his offense now after clubbing 30 homers over the past two seasons. Exposito has a strong frame and can drive balls a long way, but he also has a long swing that leads scouts to question whether he'll be able to tap into his power potential. His aggressive approach results in some wasted at-bats. Exposito's size and lack of fast-twitch athleticism make him an easily below-average runner, which normally isn't a concern, but it eventually could affect his defense, which would be a problem. His arm features more strength than accuracy, and he threw out 27 percent of basestealers in 2009. He doesn't have soft hands but has worked hard on his defense and rates close to average as a receiver. He also has sought advice from Jason Varitek on how to lead a pitching staff. After finishing strong in Double-A last year, Exposito will return there to begin 2010. The Red Sox want to avoid having him share time on the same team with Tim Federowicz, who's a better defender but has less offensive potential.
Suspended for virtually the entire 2007 for what club officials deemed a lack of maturity, Exposito did some growing up and responded with a breakout 2008, batting .293 with 21 homers. Signed as a draft-and-follow for $150,000 in 2006, he originally attracted the Red Sox with his defensive ability. They didn't envision him growing into plus power potential, but that's exactly what he has done, especially to his pull side. Exposito is very strong but sometimes lacks finesse at the plate. His approach can get primitive--see ball, try to crush ball--and he can give away at-bats. He doesn't have the softest hands, but he has worked diligently to improve his receiving. He has a strong arm, though his throws sometimes lack accuracy and he erased just 28 percent of basestealers last season. He blocks balls well and has developed his game-calling and leadership skills. Like most catchers, Exposito doesn't offer much speed on the bases. With his big frame, he'll have to continue to maintain his conditioning. He's the best in-house option to become a regular major league catcher, but Exposito isn't nearly ready to take over for a declining Jason Varitek yet. If Mark Wagner repeats Double-A, Exposito could start 2009 by returning to high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

After spending the second half of the 2008 season in the California League, Exposito returned to high Class A, this time with Boston's new Salem affiliate. He had a solid season and played even better following a promotion to Double-A. Exposito's best offensive tool is his power, but swing is long and might not translate to higher levels. He's still learning to cut down on his stroke, especially with two strikes, to be able to use the opposite field. He should hit at least well enough to have a big league role in some capacity. He's a well below-average runner. With his large frame, Exposito provides a big target for his pitchers. He has strong hands to go with solid blocking skills and footwork behind the plate. His arm strength is above average and he has a quick release, though he threw out a just 27 percent of basestealers between Salem and Portland. "I think he could be a starter," a NL scout said. "Right now I see him as a solid backup because of the long swing, but he really caught my eye with his catching."